Windows 7 Release Candidate — Download instructions — Welcome to Windows 7 Release Candidate (RC) testing. We're on our way to Windows 7, and the RC is a great opportunity for IT professionals like you to take Windows 7 and begin testing it in your real environment.

Hottest tracks to cost $1.29 at iTunes starting April 7 — The online music store, under pressure from record labels, is abandoning its 99-cent-only strategy. — The world's largest music store, Apple's iTunes, plans to boost the price of many hit singles and selected classic tracks to $1.29 on April 7 …

Skype for iPhone to Be Released as Early as Next Week — Heads up: A few months ago, I asked Skype CEO Josh Silverman when was he going to launch the iPhone version of the P2P voice and IM service that has now been downloaded more than 405 million times. He smiled and said, “Stay tuned.”

Google, at your service — It used to be that creating a webpage was a pursuit reserved for the truly tech-savvy, requiring a geek's expertise in HTML, Java, or C++ coding. — These days, it's a different story. Working with a hosting service has made things a great deal easier …

BlackBerry to Launch TV Episode Service? — We've heard from multiple sources that RIM is planning to announce a full-episode television service for BlackBerry users as early as next week at CTIA. — Here's what we've heard so far: — It will be an unlimited monthly subscription service for a fee

The Apps Battle Heats Up — Research in Motion will soon launch an online store to rival Apple's, with Nokia and Microsoft to follow — On Apr. 1, Mike Lazaridis, co-CEO of Research in Motion (RIMM), is expected to take the stage at the wireless industry's annual trade show in Las Vegas …

iGoogle's got game... themes! — I'm happy to announce the launch of iGoogle game themes. These themes offer our users new iGoogle backdrops inspired by their favorite video games, including classics like “Mario” and “Mega Man” and new sensations like “Wii Sports” and “Spore.”

Apple's WWDC 2009 dates announced: June 8-12 — It's time to dust off your suitcase and Cocoa chops, because Apple has just announced the dates for its 2009 Worldwide Developers Conference. — WWDC '09 is set for June 8-12, and it will take place in the same Moscone West hall in San Francisco, CA.

Apple's iPhone App Refund Policies Could Bankrupt Developers — We reported yesterday about Apple's alleged delay in payments to iPhone app developers, but there is more alarming news from iPhone developers about Apple's refund policies. Apparently, if iPhone users decide that they want a refund for an app …

SynthaSite no more — website builder now called Yola — Normally, I don't spend time worrying about branding, as long as a company name isn't egregiously stupid. That's because people spout a lot of uninformed nonsense about this stuff, and I don't like adding to that, plus …

Facebook Begins Targeting Families — Facebook appears to have it out for the developers of large family applications on Facebook. The company has created a new landing page where users can create groups specifically targeted to their family. While there is nothing unique about the end product …

There's Something About Boxee — Boxee, a free software package that pulls together multiple sources of Internet video in an easy-to-use interface, has quietly been building an army of ardent fans. — But what is it about Boxee that is driving the technorati wild?

Connecting up — Online-dating websites prosper in the recession — NOT many industries are doing well in the recession. But along with discount retailers and pawnbrokers, online-dating sites such as eHarmony.com and OkCupid.com have seen business look up. There are several theories to explain why.

New VAIO P Coming? — Remember that teaser (see pic above) Sony spread around the world before unveiling VAIO P? Fun times! — Folks always wonder, will there be a new, refreshed line of their favorite product and of course we also know that Sony loves to present their VAIOs in series …

Google is taking us down the road to hell — Google recently took another step along the path of surveillance as a service, launching what it called “interest-based advertising”, and which everyone else calls “behavioural targeting”. These are systems that collect extensive personal data, for marketing purposes.

iPhone Advances Mobile Search in the UK — comScore has released data about iPhone users in the UK and compared to other mobile devices, the iPhone is certainly spurring on mobie search. — 55% of iPhone users conduct searches on their devices, while just 32% of smartphone users and 12% …

Internet Typology: The Mobile Difference — Wireless Connectivity Has Drawn Many Users More Deeply into Digital Life — Cast a glance at any coffee shop, train station or airport boarding gate, and it is easy to see that mobile access to the internet is taking root in our society.